Rolling door mechanism



Aug. 8, 1933. H. G. KELLY ROLLING DOOR MECHANISH Filed Aug. 50, 1930 mrenkm Harry @Kelly BIJ Hummel Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNITED sii-Ares rATcr Fries Application August 30, 1930.

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a door and hanging means therefor, and as employed in the present instance7 it relates to a door adapted to be openedV upwardly, closed downwardly,

and moved laterally to be pressed tightly against the stops of a frame therefor as an incident to the closing of the door.

The objects or the present invention, among others, include the following:

An improved means for suspending a door;

A novel means for moving a door laterally to the path of its normal movement to cause it to closely engage the stops of a frame therefor;

A novel track for a sectional door;

An unique arrangement of track, rollers, and dellectors to provide an improved door guiding and supporting device.

These, and such otherobjects of the invention as may hereinafter appear, are obtained by 2O the novel construction, unique arrangement, and improved combination ci elements illustrated in the accompanying single sheet oi drawing, disclosing one form oi the invention, and in which Figure 1 gives a perspective view oi a door and a hanging means therefor embodying one form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation and section of the door and a supporting member therefor shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a vertical fragmentary elevation with part of the track removed and showing therseveral rollers and defiectors at each side of the door;

Figure 4V is a transverse section through the track illustrating one position of a roller and the track with a deflector for said roller therein and a recessed portion oi said track opposite said deflector.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the track illustrating one position of a roller in Contact with the inclined surface of a deector and the parallel surface of a recessed portion oi said track.

Figure 6 is a transverse section through a track illustrating one position of a roller in contact with the inclined surface oi a deflector in a track having no recessed portions opposite said deectors, said rollers being of a less danieter than the distance between opposed inner surfaces of the two track members.

Figure 7 is an elevation or" a spring member which may be used with each of the roller brackets to maintain the contact of the rollers with the inner iace of the track opposed to the serial No. 478,815

(c1. 21a-2o) door until said rollers contact with deflectors in said track.

Figure 8 isa section of the track with a spring member attached Vto said track at points not opposite the deectors.

ALike reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawing and in the description of the inventionwhich follows:

The invention is adapted particularly for use in a garage structure. About a door opening v therein, generally of considerable width -and designated l0, there are suitable frame members 11 which extend vertically along the sides of said opening 10, and a transverse frame member 12 which extends from one member 11 to 70 the other.

There may be several frame members 13 extending vertically upwardly from the member l2. Against the door opening 10, at the sides and top thereof there may be stop members 14 se- 75 cured to the frame members 11 and 12 and having a face 15 perpendicular to the face of frame members 11 and l2.

The stop members 14 on the Opposite frames 11 are reversed and complemental, and the inner 80 face 15 may be placed parallel to and in registry With the edge of the side of door 16.

A vertical support member 17 is attached on either side of door opening 10 to ythe wall and to vertical member l1. A vertical section oi track 18 is secured to said support member, said track consisting of one track member 19 adjacent to support member v1'? having a surface 2l) parallel to the inner face of door 15 and a channel track member 21 having'a-ilat surface 22 90 opposed to surface 20 of track member 19 and two Wings 23 having opposed inner surfaces 24. Brackets 25 secure track member 21 to track member 19 and to support member 17 in exact registry by means of fastening members 26 and 95 -MernberslQ and 21 extend upwardly in parallelism until adjacent the upperportion of said door 16 when, in continued parallelism, said members are turned inwardly of vthe garage in which used, forming a bent section 28, from which projects an approximately horizontal section 29, the extreme ends of which are supported approximately parallel to the garage ceiling by brackets 30 secured to the ceiling or roof or" the 105 garage. Track members 19 and 2l are maintained in exact parallelism and registry in bent section 28 and horizontal section 29 by brackets 25. v

In the channel 21, at spaced intervals, are deiiectors 31 having faces 32 inclined to surface of said channel. Each of said deectors has an edge 33 located at a certain distance from the wing of said channel outward from the edge of door 16 said distance being successively greater in each deilector encountered as the floor is approached.

Said deflectors are plainly illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 6. The deflectorznearest the top is designated 35, the one next there below, 36, and the next there below, 37, and that cent the lower end of channel 21 and near the floor of the garage, 38. Each deilector may be secured in the channel 21 in any suitable manner, as for example, by a plurality of screws 39, as disclosed in Figure 5. The deflector member 31 may be replaced by a tongue (not shown) cut from the body of track section 21 and bent inwardly of the track to present a surface disposed similarly to deiiector surface 32.

On a door 16, adapted to close opening 1D, and comprising sections which are transversely hinged together, there are a plurality of pairs of rollers at the opposite lateral edges thereof.

Section 40 at the top of the door 16 has a pair of brackets 41 with a section extending away from the face of the door. Such brackets 41 include a flanged base 42 attached to the door 16, relatively close to its top. The bracket 41 is of an L shape, one section being secured in base 42, and there being at the free end of the other section a shaft 43 upon which there is a roller 44. Said roller 44 is adapted to ride in the upper curved section 28 of the track when the door 16 is closed and as it is opened, to travel upwardly out of the curved section 28 into the horizontal section 29 thereof.

In the present disclosure, the door has four sections 40. Said sections are secured one to another by the hinges 45 which are suitably spaced apart. l

At each end of section 40 where they arc joined together, there is a hinge member 5G having opposed wings or straps 5l, each one of which is secured to an opposed and adjacent section 40. Said hinges include a pintle 52 which has an enlarged central portion 53 terminating in a roller shaft 54. On each shaft 54 is a roller 55 and in association therewith are a number of washers '56. At the end of the shaft 54 is a cotter pin 56u or the like, which is used to maintain the roller 55 and the several washers in a selected arrangement on shaft 54.

The several members 50 are stationed as previously stated, at the intersection of sections 40 in door 16.

At the bottom of the door 16, there is another bracket having a base 61. The bracket 60 terminates in a shaft 62 upon which a roller 63 and washers are held by a pin.

By reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the rollers 55 and 63 and their associated washers are so arranged that the most highly -positioned rol-ler 55 is Ain -alignment with roller 44, while rollers 55 between the second and third, and between the third and fourth, sections 40, and roller '63 are each mounted to ride upon their respective shafts in staggered arrangement. The rollers, as the bottom of door 16 is approached, each are one step nearer the edge of the door Y16.

Each of the deilectors 35, 36, .37 and 38, as will be noted from Figure 3, is so positioned that only when the door 16 is about to be closed do the several rollers 55 andr 63 register with the defiectors provided therefor. Thus as the door 16 is raised, roller 63 disengages deflector 38, and conjointly the roller members 55 disengage themselves from deflectors 35, 36 and 37. In the further upward movement of the door 16, the deflectors 35, 36, and 37, do not interfere with the free movement of the door 16 for the rollers 55 and 63 can not contact with any of the deflectors except those provided for the engagement of each when the door is about to be closed. As the door 16 rises in its upward flight, it is guided primarily by the roller 44 at the eX- treme top of the door which engages the outward flanges of channel 2l. The upper rollers 55 assist somewhat in preventing lateral displacementof the'door 16. The roller 63 at the extreme bottom of the door 16 serves also to prevent such displacement as said rollers engage the internal flanges atA the side of channel iron 21 adjacent to door opening 10. In this manner the door 16 is kept Within limits by the roller members and track therefor which guide it effectively in its upward flight. Of course, in the downward flight, the channel 21 and rollers act in precisely the same manner. Y

In the downward flight of the door 16, the travel of the door is confined in the definite limits just mentioned by the action of the rollers 44, 55, and 63 in respect to the track 21. As the door 16 approaches its downmost position, lower roller 63 engages the stop 38 While the rollers 55 concurrently engage stops 35, 36, and 37. The roller 44 engages the curved track section 28 of the track 21 concurrently. As the door 16 attains its downmost level, it is moved away from the channel 21 outwardly toward opening 10 to force the door against stops 14 or frame members 11 and 12 placed thereon to seat the door 16 when said door is forced outwardly.

As Apreviously stated, there are washers on shafts 43, 54, and 62.- A number of these washers are of the same width and others are narrower. The wide washers on said shafts are designated 56 and are interchangeable.V There may be associated with the several washers, just referred to, on each spindle for the rollers 44, 55, and 63, another washer 70, such washer being of lesser thickness than the washers 56 just described. This washer is generally at the side of the roller toward the end of the spindle to provide clearance of the roller with upper deflectors. Another washer 71 may be employed at the eXtreme outside end of each spindle adjacent to the pin which is used for holdingthe several rollers and other washers in position on a spindle.

Transferring the washers 56 one at a time from the internal side of the bracket lon which used, to the outside of the roller thereon, changes the position of the roller on the spindle. On the bracket 60, all of the washers are on the outer end of the shaft 62, so that the roller 63 is in contact with the flange 23 of track 21 adjacent door 16.

By the arrangement of the rollers and washers on the brackets in the manner illustrated, a `simple assembly upon the several brackets for correctly positioning the several rollers is obtained. It is not necessary to provide a plurality of different brackets for the door, two types of brackets only being required. Hence, the manufacturing cost of the hardware for the hanging of the door is reduced to a minimum.

In Figures 4 and 5 the contact of rollers 5'5 and 63 with the surface 20 of track member 19 during the upward travel of door 16 after said rollers disengage their respective defiectors and during the downward travel until said rollers engage said deilectors directs the travel of said door in a plane separated from contact with the stops 14 or frame members 1l and 12. To permit the lateral displacement 4beyond the plane of surface 20 of track 19, recesses 81 wide enough toreceive said roller are formed by bending outwardly sections of track 19 with a surface 82 parallel to the surface 32, of deiicctors 31. Each of said recesses 81 is located in staggered rela tion with other recesses 81 and in exact position to receive one only of the rollers 55 and 63 as each of said rollers comes in contact with its actuating deiiector.

In Figure 6, rollers 55 and 63 are of a diameter considerably less than the distance separating the opposed surfaces 20 and 22. When said rollers 55 and 63 are forced by contact with their several actuating defiectors against the surface 2G of trackrnumber 19 the door 16 is forced against stop members 14 to assure a tight closure of opening 10. During the upward travel of door 16 after said rollers 55 and 63 have become disengaged from their respective actuating deilectors, and during the downward travel of said door before the engagement of said rollers with said deflectors, the disengagement of said door i a circular portion 84 encircling the washers of all shafts bearing rollers 55 and 63, and free ends 85 in sliding contact with surface 20 of track members 19. Y

Another series of springs 86 may be attached at intervals to the vertical and curved surfaces 2Q of track member 19, none being directly oppositethe deflectors. Said springs 26 which are secured to track surface 20 contact with rollers 55 and 63 forcing said rollers to travel along surface 22 of track 21 except when said rollers are in contact with their several actuating defiectors thus keeping the door 16 from frictional contact with face 15 of top member 14.

The pitch in the curve in the roller track heretofore referred to as curved section 28, is such that it will give to the upper section e0, when the door is closed, an outward thrust, to assure a tight contact with the stop 14. attached to frame member 12 which arranged along the door opening for engaging the door l to complete an air and moisture tight closure of said opening 10.

Any suitable locking means may be arranged on the inside of the door 16 to secure the door in its closed position. In the present embodiment, said locking means are parallel rods 8O adapted to be moved laterally to engage the lower edge of each of two brackets 25 to prevent the lifting ofthe door when the rods SO are in contact with such brackets 25.

The door 16 may have any desired counterbalancing or actuating system. in the present instance, this is a spring-actuated drum 90 upon brackets 91 attached to frame members 13. About said drum s0 is a cable 92 which is secured to the door 16 adjacent the bottom. This is but one form of counterweighting which may be employed. A cable, pulley and counter-baln supplant the counter-balancing system shown.

Iclaim: 1. A door, a channel track section and an opposed track surface at the sides of said door, rollers on the `sides of said door in staggered arrangement, said rollers being enclosed between the parallel surfaces of said,track sections, .thc opposed surfaces of said track sections being separatedfrom each other a distance greater than the diameter of said rollers, and inclined deflector members on the inneixsurfaces of vsaid track section opposite the surface of said door, said deflectcr members being arranged to deflect said rollers simultaneously at approximately the point at which4 said door becomes `completely closed whereby said door whenI being close-:l is moved laterally.

2. The door described in claim 1, and in which there is associated with said rollers, a plurality of springs contacting the inner face of said track to force said door away from the track surface opposite said deector members While said door is in motion.

3. Guide means for a door having staggeredly arranged side rollers, and comprising a channel iron member and an opposed track surface member in spaced relation, one of said members having a plurality of inclined surfaces in staggered arrangement to engage said side rollers simultaneously.

4. A door and support therefor comprising a channeled track having a plurality of spaced apart, inclined surfaces in staggered relation, a door having brackets extending into said channeled track, and rollers on said brackets arranged instaggered relation, the rollers adjacent the top and the bottom of said door being arranged to bear against opposite ilanges of saidchanneled track;

5. Means for guiding a sliding door into an opening to be closed by said door comprising a relatively wide channel member having wings v and a plurality of spaced apart, inclined sections e in staggered arrangement, said door having a plurality of brackets extending across said channel member, rollers on said brackets, certain of said rollers engaging the opposite Wings of said channel, and means on said brackets for arranging said rollers for simultaneous registry with said inclined sections of said track.

6. A frame, stops thereabout, a door having a plurality of paired shafts, all of said shafts eX tending laterally from said door, rollers on said shafts, in staggered relation, a track` consisting of Va channel portion and a portion providing an opposed track surface enclosing said rollers on each side of said frame, deflectors having inclined surfaces in staggered relation with each other associated with vthe track surface opposite said door and said track portion opposed to said deiiectors having staggered recesses with associated inclined surfaces parallel to said delecting surfaces in the opposite track portion, said recesses being adapted to receive a roller as each of said roller is simultaneously deflected by con-` tact with a selected deector from its plane of travel along said track at approximately the point` of closing of said door, said door being thereby pressed against said stops on said frame.

7. In a vertically sliding door, rollers at the sides of said door, said rollers being in staggered relation, a track at each side `of said door and having opposed surfaces between which said rollers travel, deilectors each having an inclined face in staggered relation in one of said surfaces,

and recessed sections in the opposite surface of said track, each of said recessed sections having an inclined face substantially parallel With the inclined face of an associated deflector, said rollers, deflectors and recesses being in complemental arrangement whereby to move said door as a unit transversely of its normal path of travel as an incident to said door attaining the end of its travel along said track.

8. A door, a channel track section and an opposed track surace at the sides of said door, rollers on the sides of said door in staggered arrangement, said rollers being enclosed between the parallel surfaces of said track sections, said track sections being Wider than the faces of said rollers, the opposed surfaces of said track sections being separated from each other a distance greater than the diameter of said rollers, a bracket for each roller, spacing elements on said bracket, the position of the roller and spacer elements being interchangeable to admit of each roller riding over a selected longitudinal section of the track, and inclined deector members on the inner surfaces of said track section opposite the surface of said door, said deilector members being arranged to deect said rollers simultaneously at` approximately the point at which said door becomes completely 'closed whereby said door when being closed is moved laterally.

y HARRY G. KELLY. 

